Some letters appear everywhere, while others take a little more searching—and that's what makes the Letter U so much fun! As children discover umbrellas on rainy days, underwater animals in storybooks, and uniforms worn by community helpers, they'll hear the /ŭ/ sound and see how letters connect to the world around them.
You'll discover on this page:
Phonics songs are an excellent tool for teaching letter sounds as children prepare for reading. Sing the songs slowly, focusing on the sound of the letter. It’s very important to focus on teaching children only the short vowel sounds at first. Avoid introducing other sounds, like long vowels, until the child has mastered CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words and basic reading skills.
Phonics Song
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
U /u/ umbrella
U /u/ umbrella
/u/ /u/ /u/ /u/
U /u/ umbrella
Bible Version
Tune: Farmer in the Dell
U /u/ under
U /u/ under
No one was under fed
U /u/ under
Draw or paint up arrows on the Letter U poster.
Draw or place umbrella stickers on the Letter U poster. Add raindrops.
- Read a book while under an umbrella.
- Turn an umbrella upside down and throw light-weight objects into the umbrella.
Pretend to be community helpers wearing uniforms.
Create an underwater sensory bin with toy sea animals. Explore objects that float and sink underwater.
My "U" Book by Jane Belk Moncure - Be sure to use the phonetic sound of the letter and not the letter name when reading the book. When we come to a letter, I have my child read the phonetic sound of each letter.
Set in a Costa Rican cloud forest, Jan Brett's The Umbrella follows a boy named Carlos who climbs a fig tree to spot wildlife, leaving his large umbrella upside-down on the ground below. Unbeknownst to Carlos, a succession of rainforest animals—from a tiny tree frog to a large jaguar—pile into the umbrella until a hummingbird tips it over and sends them all tumbling away. Through playful dialogue like "No está aquí" and "¡Basta!", the story seamlessly introduces young readers to basic Spanish words and phrases alongside its tropical adventure.
Written by Hans Christian Andersen, The Ugly Duckling tells the story of an oversized, grey bird born into a barnyard who is mocked and rejected by the other animals for looking different. After enduring a long, lonely winter in hiding to escape their cruelty, he sees his reflection in the water come spring and realizes he was never an awkward duckling at all, but rather a graceful white swan. The timeless classic explores themes of personal growth, belonging, and finding where you truly fit in. Multiple editions are available for this book.
Karla Kuskin’s Under My Hood I Have a Hat is a precious, rhyming picture book that follows a young child bundling up in layers of heavy winter clothing—from boots and sweater to hat, hood, and mittens—to go play outside in the snow. After running around in the cold, the child comes back indoors and slowly peels off each cozy layer one by one. Written with simple repetition, it captures the everyday joy of winter play and the warmth of getting comfortable inside afterward.
See More Winter Activities
Denise Fleming’s Underground offers young readers a vivid, cross-section view of the hidden world thriving right beneath our feet. Through minimal, rhythmic text and vibrant pulp-paper illustrations, the book introduces creatures like earthworms, ants, moles, and chipmunks as they dig, nest, and navigate their subterranean habitats. It encourages curiosity about nature and science by revealing how much life and activity exists below the surface of a simple backyard.
All Printables Free for Immediate Family Use or with a Current License Only
